< Lorenza Panero
United States
BIOGRAPHY
One of my earliest memories as a child is seeing a painting by Mondrian. I remember clearly standing in front of it for quite a while. Nothing had affected me this strongly, and I knew at this moment that I wanted to be like him: an artist, a painter of spaces.
Life has taken me many places, with different people, to multiple locations; each encounter has informed and nurtured my work. Being exposed to different cultures at an early age made me strive to develop a visual language that is relevant in many geographies and contexts, that isn’t completely local. This intent drove me to test different formats as well, including experimental cameraless photographic processes, printing in all its manifestations, installation art in mostly contained spaces, and painting. Still, the process of visualization of expression has always been consistent, working information in layers to build content, with transparency and the emphasis on light paramount.
The spaces I construct are extended, feeling landscapes, that can be inhabited, where emotional connection can take place, where certain intimate triggers take place: memories, aspirations, a completion of desire. My focus has always been on nature, and as a landscape artist, as a builder of spaces I look to the environment for relevance. Viewing becomes a very emotional experience, beyond reasoning.
I am an urban creature completely at home in New York, and yet the wild natural environment of my Colombian homeland is closest to my heart. The excitement of New York is equal to the immediacy of the natural environment in Colombia. Both places have impacted my work profoundly, but more recently the mountains and the rainforests, the rivers and the oceans of Colombia have influenced my practice in a significant way, nurturing especially the urgency of saving our world. My work demonstrates this preoccupation with the ecosystem, with water, with our relationship to the natural world, with the penetration of technology into seemingly every sphere of life – this is clearly reflected both in imagery and process and constitutes the core of my practice.
Colombia is the most beautiful place I know. Nature is wild and varied, and the life cycle is ever-present. It is also a place of enormous and terrifying violence. It is a land where each person learns a different level of tolerance, an empathy for human behavior—in all its facets—and generosity with others. Unpredictable violence and its consequences create a space where forgiveness is a must, where courage is not always present, and loss is a way of life.
This reality has placed empathy at the core of my practice. My landscapes are about closeness, and safe harbor: these are emotional pictures. The work brings together different material capacities and processes, incorporating the knowledge from other methodologies. Layers of information generate dimensions of recognition and surprise. I want to excite the viewer, create a sense of immediacy, take apart traditional language to create more surprising visuals, that ask for more attention from the audience.
I juxtapose different languages to construct emotional experiences for the viewer. Nature shapes the content in my work, it illuminates the struggle of humankind. I believe the landscape offers refuge, a place of safety from brokenness. But art is more than refuge; it is truth, describing our dreams, our spiritual geographies. With it we define who we are and where we are going.
My work is a response to our present reality: we are living in a time of urgency like no other when our own survival is at stake. My aim is to remind the viewer of this reality by contrast, presenting a “perfect place” that in truth only exists in our own minds. Expression makes it real.
CV
CURRICULUM VITAE
PERSONAL
Born in New York, educated in Colombia, New York and Europe, BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), 1981, MFA (Master of Fine Arts) 1992 Hunter College (CUNY). Ample experience living abroad, including Rome, Barcelona, Washington, New York and Bogotá where the artist resides at present.
SOLO EXHIBITS
THE GARDEN 2022
The Little House at Dries Van Noten, Los Angeles, California
FIESTA 2019
SN Macarena, Bogotá, Colombia
FREEDOM (in the name of) 2018
Exclusive Preview, Lorenza Panero, Bogotá, Colombia
NO.55 2017
Private Viewing Pop-up Event, New York, New York
ETERNO VERANO 2016
Galería Sextante, Arte Dos Gráfico, Bogotá, Colombia
LONG SUMMER 2015
The Americas Collection, Coral Gables, Florida
MONOTIPOS 2014
ArtBo Feria de Arte, Arte Dos Gráfico, Bogotá, Colombia
ORÍGENES 2013
Galería Sextante, Arte Dos Gráfico, Bogotá, Colombia
SECRETO 2010
Galería Sextante, Arte Dos Gráfico, Bogotá, Colombia
TELEGRAMA –TRAVELING INSTALLATION 2008-2010
Museo Bolivariano, Santa Marta, Colombia
Museo de Arte Moderno, Cartagena, Colombia
Casa de la Aduana, Barranquilla, Colombia
PARAÍSO 2006
Galería El Nogal, Bogotá, Colombia
LUMINISCENCIAS 2005
Artecámara, Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá, Colombia
SILENCIO 2004
ArteConsultores, Bogotá, Colombia
DESIRE 2004
Florida International University, North Miami, Florida
AGUA 2004
Centro Cultural del Brasil, Bogotá, Colombia
NORTHERN LIGHT 2003
Kracer Gallery, Miami, Florida
NATURA 2002
ArteConsultores, Bogotá, Colombia
EL AMOR ETERNO 2000
Centro Venezolano de Cultura, Bogotá, Colombia
LAS ESTACIONES DEL ALMA 1999
Sextante Galería, Bogotá, Colombia
SECOND SKIN 1993
Times Square Gallery, Hunter College, New York, New York
SECOND SKIN & MEMORIAS DE LA GUERRA 1993
Galería Diners, Bogotá, Colombia
OBRAS RECIENTES 1989
Galería Iriarte, Bogotá, Colombia
LORENZA PANERO 1985
Galería Trazo, Bogotá, Colombia
GROUP EXHIBITS
(selection)
2022
A PRECEDES B, David Richard Gallery,
Curated by Michael Zahn
New York, New York 12 March-1 April
2021
COSMIC DANCES, Felipe Grimberg Fine Art,
Curated by Guadalupe García Miranda
Miami, Florida 21 October -23 December
2019
SAN FELIPE OPEN, Casa 4,
Curated by Guillermo Cárdenas
Bogotá, Colombia 8-15 June
EDICIÓN LIMITADA, M´ART Maison Art, SN Macarena,
Bogotá, Colombia 15 May- 15 June
2018
PREVIEW, M´ART Maison Art, SN Macarena,
Bogotá, Colombia 11-28 October
EDICIÓN LIMITADA, M´ART Maison Art, SN Macarena,
Bogotá, Colombia 11-28 May
LE SM´ART, Aix-en-Provence, France 17-21 May
ALG Contemporary Art
YIA, Paris, France 18-21 October
ALG Contemporary Art
2015
FOTOGRÁFICA BOGOTÁ, FOTOMUSEO, Bogotá, Colombia
2013
ENCOUNTERS, A DIALOGUE BETWEEN COLOMBIAN AND INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS, Beatriz Esguerra Art, Bogotá, Colombia
2007
FLASH, The Americas Collection, Coral Gables, Florida
SOLIDARTE, Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia
PINTEMOS JUNTOS POR COLOMBIA, Matamoros Corporation, Bogotá, Colombia
2006
FLASH, The Americas Collection, Coral Gables, Florida
COLEGIO DEL CUERPO, MAMBo, Museum of Modern Art, Bogotá, Colombia
PINTEMOS JUNTOS POR COLOMBIA, Matamoros Corporation, Bogotá, Colombia
SOLIDARTE, Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia
POR AMOR AL ARTE, Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia
MENORAH, Galería Alonso Garcés, Bogotá, Colombia
2005
ARTBO-FERIA DE ARTE DE BOGOTA,Galería 301, Maracaibo, Venezuela
LA PRIMAVERA DEL MAMBO, Museum of Modern Art, Bogotá, Colombia
EL COLOMBO SE ENGALANA, Centro Colombo-Americano, Bogotá, Colombia
PINTEMOS JUNTOS POR COLOMBIA, Matamoros Corporation, Bogotá, Colombia
SOLIDARTE, Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia
2004
PHOTOGRAPHY PLUS, The Americas Collection, Coral Gables, Florida
POR AMOR AL ARTE, Galería El Museo, Bogotá, Colombia
COLECCION ARTE, MAMBo, Museum of Modern Art, Bogotá, Colombia
PINTEMOS JUNTOS POR COLOMBIA, Matamoros Corporation Bogotá, Colombia
INAUGURAL, GDS Galería, San José, Costa Rica
ART PALM BEACH CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR, Felipe Grimberg Fine Art, Florida
MARIPOSA, Corazón Verde Foundation, Bogotá, Colombia
2003
DOUGLAS DIBBLE MEMORIAL ART AUCTION, Times Square Gallery, Hunter College, New York
COLECTIVA, MAMBo, Museum of Modern Art, Bogotá, Colombia
SALON DE LA PALMA, Centro de Convenciones, Cartagena, Colombia
REPLANTEAMIENTOS, Universidad de Salamanca, España, Bogotá, Colombia
ALIENTO, Universidad de Salamanca, España, Bogotá, Colombia
IMAGENES INTERVENIDAS, Fundación Santillana, Bogotá, Colombia
2002
ALMA DE INTEGRACION, CAF Galería, Caracas, Venezuela
ART PALM BEACH CONTEMPORARY ART FAIR, Felipe Grimberg Fine Art, Florida
MURALES, Children’s Museum, Bogotá, Colombia
MENORAH, Galería Alonso Garcés, Bogotá, Colombia
ARBORIZARTE, I & II, Fundación Corazón Verde, Bogotá, Colombia
2001
LOS ARTISTAS Y EL PAPEL DE FIQUE DE BARICHARA, Centro Venezolano de Cultura, Bogotá, Colombia
PAPEL DE BARICHARA, BID, Interamerican Development Bank, Caracas, Venezuela
1998-2000
PROYECTO MAPA -TRAVELING EXHIBITION
Contemporary Art Museum of Zulia, Maracaibo, Venezuela
Sextante Galería, Bogotá, Colombia
Jacobo Borges Museum, Caracas, Venezuela
Museum of Modern Art, Medellín, Colombia
Centro Venezolano de Cultura, Bogotá, Colombia
1999
PORTAFOLIO, Museo del Páramo, Bogotá, Colombia
1994
PASSION -TRAVELING EXHIBITION
Peconic Gallery, Riverhead, New York
Rathbone Gallery, Albany, New York
1992
COLECTIVA, Gaula Galería, Bogotá, Colombia
1991
GROUP SHOW,Times Square Gallery, Hunter College, New York
1990
SALON NACIONAL DE COLOMBIA, Bogotá, Colombia
1986
GROUP SHOW, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
(selection)
Global Seguros S.A., Bogotá, Colombia
Colombian Coffee Federation, Bogotá, Colombia
Banco de Occidente, Bogotá, Colombia
Corporación Clínica del Country, Bogotá, Colombia
Casa de Poesía Silva, Bogotá, Colombia
Museo del Claustro de Santa Marta, Colombia
Centro Colombo-Americano, Bogotá, Colombia
Colección Revista Credencial, Bogotá, Colombia
Florida International University, Miami, Florida
Icon Building, Philippe Starck, Miami, Florida
Bank Gibraltar, Coral Gables, Florida
Fundación San Lorenzo de Barichara, Colombia
Fundación Corazón Verde, Colombia
Consulado General de Colombia, Nueva York
COMMISSIONS (selection)
CORREDORES DAVIVIENDA
Special edition silkscreen print
GLOBAL SEGUROS S.A.
Unique large scale luminographic mural for flagship location
STANTON COLOMBIA
Special edition silkscreen print
CASA DE POESIA SILVA
Unique large scale luminograph for installation in La Candelaria
FAIRS (selection)
SCOPE MIAMI BEACH 2019
Perseus Gallery,December 3-8, Miami Beach, FL
TEXAS CONTEMPORARY 2019
Perseus Gallery, October 10-13, George R. Brown Convention
Center, Houston, TX
THE OTHER ART FAIR 2018-2020
By Saatchi Art, March 19-22, 2020, Old Truman Brewery, Shoreditch, London
May 2-5, 2019, Brooklyn Expo Center, Brooklyn, NY
March 28-31, 2019, DTLA at Magic Box @ The REEF, Los Angeles, CA
May 3-6, 2018, Brooklyn Expo Center, Brooklyn, NY
LE SM´ART 2018
ALG Contemporary Art, Aix-en-Provence, France 17-21 May
YIA, 2018
ALG Contemporary Art, Paris, France 18-21 October
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND PUBLICATIONS (on request)
STATEMENT
Jose Ortega y Gasset said: “Tell me the landscape in which you live, and I will tell you who you are.” The environment we live in and know is what defines us, both individually and collectively. Today, nature is often a distant notion, unknown and uncontrollable made more alien by technology.
As a Colombian American multimedia artist working and exhibiting since my early teens, my practice has evolved to increase the sense of immediacy and generate a stronger connection with the audience. I work with painting, with experimentation using technology and light, (which led me to create luminography: the capture of light traveling through space), and I create installations and sculptures.
I build meaning by juxtaposing different languages to construct emotional experiences for the viewer. Nature shapes the content in my work, it illuminates the struggle of humankind. I believe the landscape offers refuge, a place of safety from brokenness. But art is more than refuge; it is truth, describing our dreams, our spiritual geographies. With it we describe who we are and where we are going.
Our relationship to nature is in crisis, calling on us to explore our identity, both collective and individual, and to visualize the future we desire for our planet. With my work I want to raise consciousness on the human condition and create a feeling of community. I would like, with my practice, to awaken a sense of belonging and of responsibility for the future of the planet. In this way, I believe art can also be a tool for change.
Our landscape, natural and created, determines our identity. It tells the story of our past in every sense, and it visualizes our present human condition. My work proposes who we can be in the future.
